Another Pilot Down: The Artwork of George Gonzalez

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Hey gang, my friend Eddie is currently in an Adult Swim T-shirt competition and I thought I would help him out by spread the word about his design. If you follow this link, you can not only see his design but also rate it a 5 star. If he gets enough points or has a high rating his design will be turned into a T-shirt.

So come on ya'll, let's help another fellow artist.

Speaking of artist, last night I read Kay's upcoming dream (short story) and I think it might be the best one so far. It's really good and to think that it isn't even finished. I don't know when it will be released but when it does I will let you kool kats know.

Oh and the latest Grand Theift Auto is really good. Very good in fact. Talk about going all out! Rockstar Games don't fuck around with this franchise. They live up to the hype. It's so polished and still has the same feeling as the previous ones. The soundtrack (as usual) is awesome. (Even the reggeton songs!) The GTA's have always had great soundtracks so it's no suprise that this one is badass. It's cool that it has the song "Flashing Lights" by Kanye West. I just love that track.

So, for those who've played it, who did you kill; Dwayne or Playboy?

Well, I best be taking the day to draw and work on my latest peice. I leave you all with the latest Weezer music video, "Pork & Beans" which I am sure will make you guys laugh or giggle. It's for the internet geek in all of us.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

So, apparently people visit my blog. It seems I made the front page over at The Linkin Park Times, because of my previous post about Chester's meet and greets. Pretty snazzy. Thanks for the shout out, guys! (I didn't tell them anything. Did one of you?)

Okay, so unless you're on MySpace or Facebook, you might have already seen some new promotional photos taken of me by my friend, Valarie. Well, I'm still weeding out through some of the pictures, but for the most part expect some new promo pictures to appear on my website in the coming days.

Also, I have been drawing and while some are bearly in the begining stages, I will try and force myself to finish one or two that I have been doing since last year.

So yeah. Thanks for giving a shit about me guys. Without you, I'm nothing at all.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Well, me and Jaime's Rock N' Roll Extravaganza road trip has come to an end. It was almost two weeks of non-stop rock n’ roll fun. We saw The Birthday Massacre and Mindless Self Indulgence rock our world. I was pushed, crushed, and bent in various positions against the barricade by insane Mindless Self Indulgence fans whom were going nuts. I was drenched in Coke-A-Cola by Jimmy Urine who had thrown a glass of the drink right in front of my face. It was insane. It was beautiful. I meet some interesting people in that show. Reckless, wild, and free people who did what they pleased. Something I aspired to do during this trip.

Chester Bennington

I got to meet Chester of Linkin Park for a bit. He signed my special edition copy of “Minutes to Midnight” and my brother Jaime got the booklet of “Hybrid Theory” signed, and on top of that he gave us two mini posters that he also signed. After that, me, Jaime, and my cousin Fernie hung out at our friend’s apartment where we indulged in Nintendo Wii by playing Wii Sports and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I also managed to catch a live webcast that The Offspring were doing in California. They premiered a new song called, “You’re Gunna Go Far, Kid” which is so awesome! Their latest album, “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace” is shaping up to be one of the best albums in long while. I can’t wait for it. I’ve turned into such a fan boy.

Radiohead

On Sunday, we saw what is considered the “most anticipated” concert of the year. Radio-fucking-head. The Bob Dylan of this generation, if you will. These tickets were so in-demand that they went as far as 500 dollars just for one ticket in the pit section. Every time my older cousins would come over and they found out I had gotten tickets (that weren’t “lawn“, by the way) they’d freak and become jealous. One time on of my cousins and his girlfriend both took camera photos of my tickets. These puppies sold out fast, so I knew what I had.

Anyway, the show was fantastic! I had to be honest, I was skeptical at first especially since my friend Valarie went to the Houston show the night before my show in Dallas. (She’s a huge Radiohead fan. Hell, she was the one who made me like them back in my Freshman year.) She loved it, but was disappointed that they didn’t play “Paranoid Android” (her favorite song) and “Exit Music (For a Film)”. So needless to say, I was nervous. But boy did that fade away! Radiohead played a very electic mix of their stuff. Forget singles, forget what you knew.. This is Radiohead, if their music is any indication of what they’re about, then you’d know that they don’t follow the rules. Throw them out the window, cause that’s what these mother fuckers did on this show. They played, “Wolf at the Door” (the last track off “Hail to the Thief”) which is a god damn masterpiece of song! They did an amazing version of “The National Anthem” (complete with eye popping lights!) and the ever beautiful, always amazing, “Fake Plastic Trees”. Boy that song totally touched everybody. You could feel it in the air. So beautiful. Not only that but they surprised me by not only playing “Exit Music” but they closed their 2 hour set with the ever popular, always fantastic; “Paranoid Android”. Truly a sight to behold.

Much love to Radiohead for an amazing night. I couldn’t have asked for more. (Oh, by the way.. the reason they're isn't many photos of them was cause Jaime mostly took video. Expect some clips on YouTube soon.)

During the week we hung in San Antonio staying with my friends Tony and Gina. We drank almost every night (even when Gina had a test that she’d wind up failing. Rofl.) We played the Wii. I saw Indiana Jones 4 for free all on accident. I saw Iron Man for the fourth time. Then I saw Indiana Jones again at the midnight showing in one of the many different movie theaters. So much fun. So much of everything.

Eisley

Finally, the last concert that closed our amazing vacation was Eisley playing in San Antonio at the White Rabbit. This was my first time seeing them in concert. The thing about Eisley is that I had been a fan of them before they ever even released a first album. Eisley are a soft rock band from Tyler, Texas who consist of 3 sisters, brother, and cousin. I kept up, and visited their website where their father Boyd Dupree would update the small fan base on what was going on with the band. At the time when I became a fan, two if not three of the members weren’t even old enough to drink. They were young and had put out two EPs. They were signed to Warner Bros. Records whom provided them with the resources to finally made a debut album. They struggled and it was all documented. I was never in the studio with them, but it felt as if I was. Boyd would update everyday, sometimes twice, to even, three times a day. He’d post little videos, and clips of songs and what they were working on. I was even around when the band had Xanga’s and Livejournals. I saw the girls become frustrated. I saw them question why they got into music in the first place. I saw them write a song and finish it. They gave me a first person look at what it’s like for a young, up-and-coming band to get signed and make music they believe in, even in a world that only wants to use them for money. I saw them release their debut. I even pre-ordered it and got it a few days before they went on sale.

Years later, I saw them release their second album, “Combinations” which came out last year. So now, it was finally time to see them live and I have to say, they have come a long way.

Sherri and Stacy are now more confident, and it showed. They were in charge this time. Like Radiohead, this is a band that sticks to their guns. They know what they want and they will not compromise. They didn’t play “Telescope Eyes” (their popular song that they all hate), they played four songs that aren’t even on either album. One was a song that they released back when I first got into them that never made it into their first album. They did an amazing job. I saw a more rockier version of them. Sherri looks so pretty in person and the way she sang, it was able to touch everybody in the audience on such an emotional level. Their rendition of “A Sight To Behold” was monstrous! It was utterly fantastic. So epic, so theatrical, that it sent shivers down my spine.

Lastly, they closed with their slowest and most beautiful song to date.. “If You’re Wondering”. I got super emo. It just touched me. It reminded me of that one person I lost.. : /

VederaBut all in all, it was great. I became such a huge fan of Vedera (they opened up for Eisley) and I got to meet them after the show and got my copy of their CD signed and took a picture. Honestly, Vedera was close enough to steal the show. She had such an amazing voice. They are totally going to go far one day.

In the end, I loved this experience. I loved being away and doing what I wanted. When I first set this up a few months ago, I set out to do one thing.. to take control of my life. While I enjoyed 2007, in retrospect it opened my eyes at how truly impossible for me to be who I wanted to be was. My life spun out of control and it seemed as if every god damn action was questioned.

Doctor’s told me I couldn’t do things I wanted to do. I am too fragile they said. My heart doctor doesn’t want me to exceed my blood pressure which means I can’t be doing a lot. My eye doctor says one hit to the head could knock my vision to complete blindness. I can’t lift weights. I can’t drink. I can’t smoke. It became more of, “..what can I do?” But, I wasn’t buying it. I didn’t care. I ran the shots this time. I said what I was going to do and how I wanted to do it so me and Jaime made it happen.

..and even though there were a few bumps on the road it was fun. A lot of fun. There was nobody to answer too. This was me doing what I wanted to do without anybody telling me I couldn’t do it.

In the Offspring’s upcoming album there is a song called “Half-Truism”.

The chorus goes; “..if we don’t make it alive, it’s a hell of a good day to die.”

I couldn’t agree more.

For all 247 photos of the entire trip head on over to my MySpace Account. They'll be uploaded to Facebook soon.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Well, this week has been one of the best weeks I have ever had. I saw Mindless Self Indulgence, I got several different things signed and took a photo with Chester of Linkin Park. I saw Radiohead, I drank and drank and flittered, and fuck, I even saw Indiana Jones 4 back in Tuesday, for free! Two days before everybody! ..all on accident too. I was going to see Iron Man again for the 4th time, but it was badass cause this woman let us in to see Indiana Jones for free. So I got Val a poster for her.

Anyway, War Porn (my latest drawing) was deleted by DeviantART, because it made men unconfortable. Ah, it's funny. I just don't understand men. But whatever, I'm in too good a of a mood to be angry.

But fuck it, right? That's who I am? This is the artist I parade myself as. That's who I champion myself as.

It frustrates me, but I don't care even when it does hurt.

Sometimes I feel as if I am fighting a battle all on my own. Like if what I have to say, is just one in a million.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Anyway, I'm off to bed. Tomarrow starts me and Jaime's ultimate roadtrip across Texas with many concerts to attend!

Here's the schedule:

Thursday, May 15th : Mindless Self Indulgence performs in San Antonio.Saturday, May 17th : Chester of Linkin Park is doing a signing at North Park Mall in Dallas.Sunday, May 18th : Radiohead perform in Dallas.Thursday, May 22nd : The Foxboro Hot Tubs (Green Day) perform in Austin.Friday, May 23rd : Eisley performs in San Antonio.Saturday, May 24th : Girl in a Coma peforms in Laredo.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Hey everybody! My portrait of Trent Reznor is finally featured on page 16 in CEO Russian magazine. Click here to read the issue online and see the drawing with my name on the bottom right of the page. It seems my drawing is the only non-clip art picture used!

Man, this is so cool. I can't believe one of my drawings was published in a magazine. And a Russian Magazine no less! That's hardcore awesome, especially since I'm just a damn n00b half the time. Oh boy, oh boy!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Cynical Chameleon 23 has been unleashed on DeviantART, SheezyArt, MySpace and my website. So yeah, tell me what you guys think of this new one. I got to say, it looks so much better in person. It's to bad you won't get to see it though, since it is already going to be entered at the LCC student show exibition in the Fall. Regardless, "Poetica" took me about a good 8 or 9 hours to do. My hand is still hurting! (And, no I haven't been masturbating you wackos.) But I think it was worth it. Like Mary Bausman said, "it's my blood, sweat, and tears."

Mary Bausman and me.

Well today was the last day at Life Drawing. It was nice. We had pizza which I had been craving all day yesturday. I also gave Mrs. Bausman my drawing, "Throwing Up Water & Acid". Cause in exchange for the really nice and expensive frames she gave both "Migraine" and "Drained", she thought it would be nice to have trade. If I gave her a drawing of mine, I could keep the frames. She kept saying, "I'm the one who's going to be benefiting the most out of this", and said it didn't matter the size of the artwork. It could have been a small drawing or one my bigger ones. It made me happy cause she really likes my artwork. So of course, I had to give her one of my bigger peices.

So, goodbye my baby boy.. you were my child and a friend, even when at times I didn't want to see you again. You, like the rest of my children, embody and represent who I am inside and what it is like to be under this old skin. You were my heartbreak, my sadness, insecurties, and my rebel yell.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Head on over to nin.com to download the new 10 track album, "The Slip". It's 100% free, by the way. So, go, you have no excuse.

I'm barely downloading it right now, but if it's anything like "Discipline" and "Echoplex" then, "..eh, awesome." Aside from that, I seem to be obsessing more over the latest Offspring tracks than anything else.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Friday, May 2, 2008

..and it was really, really, really awesome! I just got back from the midnight showing with Val. I take back the bad stuff I said about the movie. It's really cool! It was so much fun and funny! It's no Batman Begins of course, but it is a solid flick. It's like the first Spider-Man, where it just felt like an awesome roller coaster ride! Everyone's jumping around, Iron Man is kicking ass and the bad guy.. OMG.. that was crazy!!

I had no idea what to expect. I honestly thought it was going to be dumb and stupid just like the two Fantastic Four movies but it's not. It's awesome!

Oh yeah, The Dark Knight trailer 3 was attached to it. OMG.. (I saw the leaked version online two days ago) ..the movie is going to be amazing!! I can not wait, after it was done I was the first one to clap and everyone started to clap and cheer after it was over. It looks like the definitive Batman film.

With that said, I know a lot of shit about what might happen in the movie.. and I gotta tell you, there's some quick flashes in that trailer that I don't think should be in there at all. But, whatever. For those of you who want to be completely suprised by just about everything. Don't see this preview. (It's not that they even do anything spoilerish, it's just that I know stuff, and yeah.. my info links up with some of the footage.)

With that said, I'm glad that amongst all the Joker's crazy friends terrorizing Gotham, they can still put in what looks to be a really great love story. Aww.. Bruce Wayne really likes Rachel Dawels... DENIED!!